Ian Cumens Aims To Keep Streak Alive In Upcoming Indoor TQ-Midget Series Events

Ian Cumens Aims To Keep Streak Alive In Upcoming Indoor TQ-Midget Series Events
By JERRY REIGLE

TRENTON, NJ – Ian Cumens has an amazing streak and it’s one he doesn’t want to see end.

He has yet to sit on the sidelines for a Saturday night indoor racing program at either Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., or the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I.

He wants the streak to continue again as the indoor racing TQ-Midget racing series continues again in a few weeks as the 10th annual Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City on Jan. 27-29 and the Coffee Cup in Providence on Feb. 5.

“We want to see that streak continue,” Cumens, 18, said. “I love racing indoors. You get to run with the best in the businesses. There is top Midget car driver like Joey Payne and Lou Cicconi at both events. Plus, you get the drivers from other classes too. Stewart Friesen has become a contender every time we go indoor racing.”

Cumens is carrying some major success himself.

The Downingtown West (Pa.) High School senior claimed the ATQMRA title, a year after his older sister Alison won it.

“The experience you get from racing indoors definitely helps in outdoor action,” Cumens said. “Indoors, you are so close lap after lap. I know of a few situations where it came into play this past racing season.

“There was a night at Bethel Motor (N.Y.) Speedway. We started 13th and ended up winning that night. That close-knit racing you get from racing indoors definitely helped us out at that event. The same can be said for the close racing at Mountain (Pa.) Speedway and Wall (N.J.) Speedway.”

Cumens will drive a family-owned Colin Martin-built Spitfire Chassis TQ-Midget. It’s the same car he drove the past few seasons in indoor racing action. The Spitfire Chassis is a bulkier car in comparison to the more compact TQ-Midget designed cars.

“It has bigger tubing, but I feel safe and comfortable in it,” Cumens said. “I know we’re just as competitive with the TQs as well.”

Also, this year marks the first time in history that the indoor races will be held on consecutive weekends.

“If it was up to me, we’d race indoors all winter,” Cumens said. “The good part of going back-to-back is you don’t have to wait for month until you race again. You go from Atlantic City right to Providence. On the bad side, if you get crashed in AC, then you have to rush to make the repairs for the next weekend.”

Cumens is hoping that there is no need to make those repairs. If history proves correct, he should be a contender in the A-Mains.

As for the future, Cumens, who was scheduled to test in the ARCA stock car series at Daytona International Speedway last month, will defend his ATQMRA title.

In addition, Cumens plans to enter a few North Eastern Midget Association-sanctioned events in ’11.

Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton, N.J. at 609-888-3618
Activity in Atlantic City will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m.
Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials. The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 29, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
Tickets for the Coffee Cup are available at the Dunkin’ Donuts box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
TQ-Midgets and Champ Karts will share the one-day card which begins at 7 p.m.